Quick prototyping including motion embellishments using a Mimaki printer. Easy to do because Fathom embellishments are software-generated patterns of regular ink.
We collected the best Fathom Effects of 2021 into a sticker pack that you can grab for free.
In this case study, the Fathom team created a new secondary package that encapsulates the idea of heavenly delights for the Lunar Elixir sake, to elevate its brand story and help translate the digital marketing to the physical package. We explored the use of Fathom Effects that could capture the particular shimmer of the moon reflecting on water, and reinforce a minimalist brand using premium materials.
Little Sparrows Technologies developed a tool to aid in the visual assessment of infant jaundice. The bili∙ruler™ is a versatile device that can be used in the field to screen infant jaundice, even in remote locations without access to mobile networks or electricity.
Concerned about potential knockoff devices that could pose a high risk to patients, the company was seeking a solution for product authentication that did not require mobile phones or access to electricity. Enter Fathom Optics, whose patented software can be used to create a customized optically-varying (OV) authentication feature without requiring special inks, materials or processes as holographic labels and other options do.
An exercise in embodying the essence of sound directly into printed media, which allows us to connect printed packaging, POP displays and digital marketing with a motion effect.
Big Top Brewing’s new Okobee American Pale Ale had to stand out among stiff competition in the craft brew aisle. LTI, the converter for this label, used Fathom Effects to meet the client’s requests of a flame graphic in the label that flickered like a real fire, and a rippling water background.
Hanna Shibata
After exploring design language in wood polish products, I started looking into leather polish products. Most products use jars, although the contents are usually cream with a thick texture and cumbersome to handle. Mercury is an attempt to bring a new aesthetic to squeezable tube packaging design with our new effects, Faceted and Kernel, which bring motion and depth to surfaces where lenticular can’t go.
Adding two different Fathom Effects
Looking over our gallery, I noticed that there were not many projects using more than one effect. Since one Fathom Effect alone can draw attention, using multiple effects can make the design distracting. I think this is an excellent opportunity to find a good balance between classy and flashy.
As usual, I used the Fathom Effects plug-in for Adobe Illustrator (beta) to select and preview different effects right in my design file. Short walkthrough:
Then within Illustrator, using the plug-in’s functionality I uploaded the design file to Fathom Designer, our preproduction portal. Here’s a 3D preview generated by Fathom Designer. In supported browsers, you can see the design applied to a container, rotate it, and share it with stakeholders. If you already have a free Fathom Designer account, you can copy this project to edit yourself. Contact me if you have any questions about this design, or adding Fathom Effects to your own design.
Unlike all-or-nothing lenticular effects, Fathom Effects work with overprinting so you can have flat areas pop by floating them above an effect area with dimension. So I made black shapes to correspond with Hex's hexagram to bridge the design, effect, and content. Aligning the two was made easier using the Fathom Effects plug-in for Adobe Illustrator.
Hydro’s recycled packaging uses biodegradable shrink sleeves. This precludes the use of many embellishments such as foils, so Hydro uses an alternative embellishment that catches the eye by turning light into motion.
A Fathom effect can uniquely cater to the label design. Having the effect replace the background not only creates an optical illusion, but makes the other graphic elements float on top. Here’s how we took Confluence’s existing label and enhanced it with swirling motion.
I wanted to show some designs that match Fathom’s standard effects with inspirational graphic elements and colors, and the techniques used to create these—something between a swatch and a lookbook. Let’s call it a design recipe.
The CBD market has exploded in recent years with many different emerging businesses. That means more competition on the shelf within a limited amount of dispensaries. The Perx brand showcases how Fathom can help enhance products and make them stick out among the other brands.
I created a brand and package design using one of our standard Fathom effects, the “Watch” series, to showcase a potential approach. It is a minimalist branding/packaging approach that works well with Fathom’s print motion effects.
How to capture a storm in a bottle with Fathom Effects.